Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1887-11-03
A GREAT FIRE.
Lewis Fl. Fox's Livery Stable
in Flames.


hear that roar! That's a runaway" ;"
and starting to go out of the stable, he
looked upward. and cried, My God !.
George, the stable is on fire p
And SO it proved for glance showed
plainly that flalues were rapidly de-
vouring the hay in the second story.
Mr.. Fox was standing just outside
talking to T. w. Williams, and he was
immediately called. Looking up he
was almost overcome by the terrible
sight which met his eyes. There burn
ing brightly was the hay in the second
story. and already pieces of the floor
over head were falling in II blaze about
the horses.
| In an instant the alarm was given,
and ready hands were extended to aid
in removing the contents of the build
ing, First the horses were run out,
and they acted splendidly. They were
given temporary quartersin the stables
of Foulk & Turner and T. w. Williams.
Up stairs the men sprang to get down
all of the wagons, sleighs. harness,
blankets, etc., but were driven back by
smoke. But they persevered, six men
with Officer Parvin in command, work
ed like troopers to save the wagons,
and succeeded admirably, but before
they finally succeeded the wagons were
brought down partly destroyed or
burning. The men that worked to
save the wagons were several times
nearly suffocated, one man fainting,
and was CARRIED into open air by Off
Ger Parvin. "
AS soon as the firemen arrived three
streams were put upon the flames, one
from the inside and two from the out
side, the corner of the building on
Warren and Elizabeth street being the
chief object of the firelnen's efforts, as
oitwas here tthat the fire started, Bhe
engine soon supplied another stream
and the fire was under control. But
at this point the suction pipe from the
plug to the engine bursted, and it was
some time before new pipe could be
attached, by that time the fire had
taken fresh start, reaching the roof
and burning number of sleighs which
were in the loft above the hay NOW.
The firemen made herculean efforts to
overcome the flames and after forty
five minutes hard fighting succeeded
in doing SO. Streams of water were
still thrown upon and in the building
but the main portion of the structure
was saved.
There was no one hurt but several
narrow escapes were the result OF
getting down the carriages. The
elevator broke early and it was
necessary to slide the wagons down a
ladder and while attempting to lower
the handsome funeral cab of Mr.. Fox,
now in flames, the ladder broke and
the wagon fell with a crash, only
clearing several persons below by a
hairs breadth.
Mr.. Fox has not the slightest idea
of the origin of the fire nor has any
one else. There has been no one in
the hay NOW since last night when the
| litter was thrown down for the bed
ding of the horses and it was here
that the fire originated.
The burning building and the work
of the firemen were witnessed by not
less than thousand people who COM
pletely blocked Pearl and Warren
streets The buildings and streets
about them were completely flooded
with water and the firemen were
| soaked.
The building. which was erected
about two years since, was in many
respects the handsomest livery estab-
lishment in Bridgeton. 1t was of brick,
two stories high, and extended from
Pearl to Elizabeth street. The struc-
ture was insured in the Hanover, and
American Insurance Co.'S, of N. Y. and
Philadelphia, for 5000, and the stock
for So, 500 in the Norwich Union, of
England. Lawyer VIM. A. Logue
placed the insurance. Several private
parties boarded horses with Mr.. Fox,
and kept their carriages and harness
there. Among the number were Reeve
& Fithian, on whose carriages, ETC.,
JAS. J. Reeves, Esq, had $4,000 in
surance. Fortunately their property
was saved without damage.
Martie Mulford had buggy in the
building, but it was got out with only
slight scorching. Jacob Mengel kept
his horses and carriages there, but
they were saved, his best buggy being
little smoked, and his business
wagon scorched. Fred Smith, of the
Ferracute Works, had sleigh in the
loft, which was destroyed. Mr.. Fox
lost one double and five single sleighs,